U.S. packaging papers shipments down 7 percent

U.S. shipments of packaging papers in May were down 7.2 percent compared to May 2018 and down 2.4 percent year-to-date, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced today.

AF&Pa said bag and sack shipments were down 0.6 percent year-to-date; multiwall shipments were down 7.5 percent; food wrapping shipments were essentially flat; and converting shipments were down 2.8 percent.

The operating rate for May decreased to 85.2 percent compared to 88.4 percent in April. Inventory levels decreased 2.3 percent from April.